“No. We met today.”
Then he reached into his bag again.
This time, he pulled out a small velvet box.
My heart nearly stopped.
People around the pool began turning toward us.
“Henry…” I whispered.
He took my hand.
“I know this looks ridiculous,” he said. “So let me explain before everyone decides I’ve lost my mind.”
Melissa folded her arms.
“This should be interesting.”
Henry glanced at her, then back at me.
“A few months ago, my wife passed away after forty-three years of marriage.”
My irritation disappeared instantly.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
He nodded.
“Thank you. After she died, I stopped living. My children kept telling me to go outside, meet people, do something besides sit in an empty house staring at photographs.”
His voice cracked slightly.
“So today was my first attempt.”
Suddenly, the cheerful man I had been swimming with seemed completely different.
Not weak.
